Capitol Site: City tree pruning sans permit

CEBU, Philippines -  Capitol Site, Cebu City Barangay Captain Manuel Guanzon has questioned the legitimacy of the City Parks and Playground Commission’s operation in pruning a 15-year-old gmelina tree at the corner of Avila Street and Osmeña Boulevard.

Guanzon said the CCPPC failed to present a Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 permit and to notify the barangay when it trimmed the tree Thursday.

“Nahibulong mi nganong giputol ang kahoy nga maayo pa man tapos walay permit sa DENR pangutana namo (We were surprised why they pruned the tree when it was still healthy and they do not even have a DENR permit),” he said.

CCPPC Chief Arlie Gesta, though, said they do not need a DENR permit for the operation as they merely pruned the tree, which was part of their maintenance activities to preserve the city’s trees.

He said the tree had to be immediately pruned because its branches and main upper trunk were already rotten, posing danger to pedestrians and motorists.

“If his beef is that we did not ask permission from the barangay, we could no longer wait just to coordinate with them since the tree’s branches and trunk were already rotten,” Gesta said in Cebuano.

According to Gesta, DENR-7 Forester FelimonEmbalzado, Jr. has recommended for the pruning of the tree.

Gesta said that to save the tree, they have to do “surgery” and to apply cement on its rotten portions.

The commission, Gesta said, is mandated to maintain the trees and plants along sidewalks and center islands of the city, adding that there are also provisions in the country’s environmental laws that allow the cutting and/or harvesting of gmelina and mahogany trees 10 to 15 years old and above.

Gesta said the barangay supposedly should be the one requesting their office for the pruning of the considering its condition.

He also cited a 20-foot narra tree near the Rizal Public Library that was already rotten but the barangay allegedly failed to attend to, prompting his office to cut it down because of its weakened condition.

Aside from complaining against what CCPPC did, Guanzon allegedly did not allow CCPPC to transport the gmelina tree’s branches to the city’s nursery in OPRRA, Capitol Site and instead took it to the barangay hall.

“Upon checking this morning (yesterday morning, we learned that) naa sa ilang custody. Naa baya ta’y guidelines nga kaning giputol nga branches adto sa agency nga nag-administer sa cutting or pruning,” Gesta said.

He said there are at least three trees in Barangays Tisa and Capitol Site and along N. Bacalso Avenue that would be trimmed due to the danger they pose to the public.— /RHM (FREEMAN)